Folding table



.. E. GOWELL FOLD-ING ATABLE Filed Oct. 16, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. E, 1929. ,697,594

' E. E. GOWELL FOLDING TABLE Filed Oct. 16, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 wuanlioz Ona/@w55 FOLDING TABLE Filed oct. 16, v1925 3 sheets-sheet 5 Patented Jan. l, j

UNITED As'lfuaTEs PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST GOWELJ, OF SOUTH PORTLAND, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. T. BURROWES COMPANY, F PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FOLDING TABLE.'

Application led October 16, i925. Serial No. 62,892.

This invention relates to improvements in light folding tables of the kind employed for v card tables and similar purposes.

One object of the invention is to provide improved leg bracing means of a simple, eili-v cient nature providing for bracing the leg transversely of their pivots and laterally at right angles -to their pivotal planes while at the same time permitting of the use of a relatively small size top and top supporting frame, and providing for the compact folding of the legs within .the frame substantially parallel with and close in alongside the sides thereof.

A yfurther object of the invention is to provide improved top supporting and reinforcing means whereby a simple, strong, rigid construction is afforded. Y

The'inventiomvwith other objects andadvantages thereof, and the particular construction, combination and -arrangement of parts comprising the same, will be understood from the hereinafter 'containeddetail description,

when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof,

and illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

In the(4 drawings: Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a table 'equipped with leg bracing means in accordance with the present invention, the legs being in folded position.

Fig.' 2 is a side elevation, the legs being unfolded.

Fig. 3 is a Adetail section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, a portion of one of the legs unfolded, one of its braces, and one of the brackets being shown in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a detail section similar to Figure 4o 3 with the leg portion and brace in folded position.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the brackets.

Fig. 6 is a detail view on an enlarged scale,

partlyin section and partly in side elevation showing the end portion of one of the braces in unfolded position engagingthe locking recess of one o the guides.

Fig. 7 is a detail section, on an enlarged scale, on the line 7--7'of Figure 1.

Fig. 8 is a detail section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 8--8 of Figure 12 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 9 is a detail view, on an'enlarged scale, A partly in section and partly in Bide elevation ltion is illustrated in the drawings, it will of in the art and falling within'the scope of the of a portion of the table top, a part of one of the legs in unfolded position, and parts directly associated therewith.-

Fig. 10 is a"transverse section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 12 looking in the direction of the arrow. p

Fig; 1l is a detail side elevation, with parts shown in'section, of one ofthe lgs and onel of its braces, the legs fbeing shown in nearly closed or folded position.

Fig. 12 is a detail'part section and lan of a portion of the vltable and one of the egs, the

legBs beingshown inifolded position. Y

ig. 13 is a' detail section on the line 13 13 of Figure 12.

Fig. 14 is a detail perspective of one of the bracket members for connecting lthe* pivot members of the legs to the reinforcing strips..

While a specific embodiment of the invencorse be understood that minor Ychanges and variations may be made in the particular construction shown, and the invention embodied' in other forms, as will appeal to those skilled appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring in detail to the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, 1 designates a s uare shaped top supporting frame compose of bars suitably secured together at their ends, and 2 a relatively light thin top of paper board or the like secured to the top supporting frame in any suitable way. The legs 3 are pivoted to the top supporting frame 1 adjacent the corner portion thereof to ,fold against the top within the supporting frame-substantially parallel with and close to the sides thereof, as

illustrated in Figure `1 of the drawings, the 95 legs 3 being pivotally connected by members brace 5 being connected at one end to one of the legs 3, extending laterally therefrom at an inclination,and being pivotally connected at its other end to the top supporting frame 1 in line with the pivot of the le a substantial distance to one-side thereof mwardly of the position of 'es p the legs when folded. n ac.-l lll l cord'ance with the present invention thev angles thereto substantially parallel with and adjacent the under side of the top 2 to a point well within the position of the legs when folded, said part 6b of the bracket having a depending portion 6 disposed in line with the pivot of one of the legs 3 in a plane at right angles to the portion 6a of the bracket and to which the upper end of one` of the braces 5 is pivotally connected by a pin 6". In the particular construction of bracket shown, each bracket 6 is formed from a flat strip of metal bent intermediateits endsat 6d at .the juncture of the portion 6l and the part '6b. The part 6b nea-r its inner end is slitted transversely at 8, and the portion at one side of the slit `8 is bent back to form the depending portion or attaching ear 6c. The' braces 5 are formed from heavy wire, said braces and the portions 6 of the brackets being vcapable of being` bent slightly, if necessary, to true up the position of the.. legs when in unfolded position.

In conjunction with the lateral braces 5, braces 9 are provided for bracing the legs 3 transversely of their pivots, each of said braces 9 being pivotall connected at one end to one of the legs 3 an having a pivotal sliding connection at its other end with one of the bars of the top supporting fra-me 1. The braces 9 each consist of a spring rod having an inwardly offset portion 9? at one end piv.- otally connected withone of the legs 3, and having an outwardl vprojecting portion 9b at its opposite end a a ted to engage a guide on the top supporting rame 1. The inwardly ofset portion 9 of the braces, in the parlte;

`nal channel 11 of the' ticular construction shown, also constitutes the connecting means for one of the cooperating braces 5 with the legs, said inwardly oiset portion 9 at its outer end projecting beyond the outer face of the legs and extending through an opening in the lower end of one of the braces 5 and having retaining means 9 at its outer end, the outer end portion of the inwardly offset portion 9, in this instance, being upset to provide a head or enlarged art for this purpose. The top. supporting rame is, provide with guides forthe 1e braces 9,'each guide having a longitudina groove 10 for the lateral extension 9b of the brace, and an inner longitudinal retaining channel 11 extending at right angles to and adjoining the roove 10, and the lateral extensions 9b of t e braces 9 are each provided wit-h a retaining shouldered or oli'set end part 12 to slidably engage inthe inner longitudiide and cooperate therewith to maintain t ev lateral extensions 9b of the braces in engagement with the guide groove 10. The guides are each provided with an opening 13 extending laterally from the outer face thereof to its inner retaining channel 11, said opening 13 bein of greater width than the width of the gui e groove 10 of a size vsuiicient to permit of the'rea-dy withdrawal from and insertion of the retainingA shoulder or oiset end 4portion 12 of the lateral extension 9b of the brace into the inner channel 11 through said opening in order to adjust the spring tension of the brace or for tion, as illustrated in Figure 11 of the drawings, and is disposed at an angletsthe ofuide so that the same does not interfere with the grasping of the end lof the brace end by the ngers and the movement of the brace end laterally out of or into engagement with the inner channel 11. In the particular exempliication illustrated in the drawings, the guides are formed by longitudinal recesses in the bars of the supporting frame 1, and-metal plates 15 secured to the frame bars adjacent 17 adapted to receive and retain the outer end of the lateral projecting portion 9b of the brace when the leg is moved to its unfolded position, the end of the outwardly projecting portion 9 springing into the recess 17 at the end of the opening movement of the leg. The plates 15 extend well beyond the location of the recess 17 along the inner channels 11, said plates 15 serving as stops to limit the outward ymovement of the lateral extensions 9b'of the braces in disengaging the same from said recesses. p'

The braces 9 are formed of heavy spring wire or spring rods and are transversely resilient, said braces being bent or bowed-intermediate their ends, as shown, 'so that through their transverse resiliency, the op- -posite end portions of 'the braces tend to spring outwardly in opposite directions exerting pressure laterally at their ends against the legs and ides on the top supporting frame Vy1. Sai braces 9 serve to hold the legs in folded position, and to hold the legs firm and rigid when in open position. The braces 9 also through their lateral resiliency and the possible looseness in the connections of both sets of braces to the legs and the connections of the latter to the top supporting frame, thus insuring an efficient cooperation between the transverse and lateral braces in firmly bracing'the legs.

By the special double bracing lneans for the legs, hcreinbefore described, the legs are firmly braced laterally of their pivots as well` as transversely theregfy. while at the same time t-he arrangement is such as to permit the luse of a relatively small size top and the closingof the full length vlegs Within the top support-ing frame substantially parallel with and close in along the sides thereof.

The special construction of bracket, hereinbefore set forth, for connecting lthe braces 5 to the top supporting frame 1 inwardl of the position occupied by the legs when fblded, affords means of an eiicient nature for this purpose, theI resulting structure being simple,`strong, durable and compact, and the parts can be conveniently and quickly assembled and replaced. The special bracket structure provides a lirm anchorage for the brace rods 6 to the top sup-porting frame 1, and the particular bracket and brace structure is also advantageous in that either the braces or the connecting bracketscan be bent to correct slight inaccuracies and true up the position of the legs when in unfolded position. l

It will also be observed that the particular `form of transverse brace cooperates in a spef cial manner with the lateral brace to obtain an efficient double bracing of the legs, the lateral braces also while acting to maintain their lateral extensions in engagement with the guides throughout the greater part of the opening and closing movement of the legs,

permitting of the convenient manual withdrawal of the brace end from the guide groove for the purpose of vadjusting the spring tension of the brace rod or for other purposes. A

Means is provided for forming a supporting connection between the inner ends of the pivot members 4 of the legs, the reinforcing strip 4', and the supportn frame whereby the structure is material y strengthened. The pivot members 4 which are'in the form of bolts or pins, each having an outer head 4a' to engage an outerv face\of the frame, are, as shown, of a length to extend through the pivot openings of the legs and project a sufficient distance to the outer sides thereof to provide for the engagement therewith of bracket members. Each bracket member comprises angularly disposed portions or legs 18. 19, the portion 18 being apertured at 9.0 to fit over an end portion of one of the pivot members 4, and the other portion or leg 19 ofthe bracket being disposed to interengage with a recessed end portion of one of the reinforcing strips 4. 22 designates washers interposed between the portions 18 of the brackets and the sides of the legs 3, the

parts being secured close together on the pivot members 4 in any suitable manner, for

instance, by upsetting the inner ends 4b of the pivot members 4,.as shown.

What I claim is: 1. A table includingl a top, a rectangular frame for supporting the top, legs pivoted to the frame adjacent the corners thereof to fold within the same-one alongside each side thereof, braces forthe legs, and a bracket member for each brace, each bracket member comprising an end portion adapted to be secured.l

to a side of the frame against the inner face thereof, and acpartextendin at an angle to said end portion inwardly-'o 'the position of the legs when folded. each brace bein vconnected with one of thelegs and to saidl part. of one of the bracket members at a point inwardly of the lposition of the legs when folded. 'i

2. A table including a top, a rectangular frame for supporting the top, legs pivoted to the frame adjacent the corners thereof 'to fold within the same one alongside each side thereof, braces for the legs, and a bracket member for each brace, each bracket member comprising a flat plate portion secured to aside of the'frame against theI inner face thereof, and a fiat plate part extending at an angle to said first, mentioned portion and 3. A table including a top, a rectangular frame for supportingthc top, legs pivoted to.

the frame adjacent the corners thereof tod fold within the same one alongside each side thereof, braces for the legs, and a bracket member for each brace, each bracket member comprising a flat plate portion secured to a side of the frame against the inner` face thereof, and a flat plate part extendlng at an angle to saidirst mentioned portion surbstantially parallel with and adj acent the under face of the top, ,said last mentioned part being provided with'a depending portion disposed inwardly of the position of the legs depending portion of one of the brackets.

4. A table including a top, a rectangular frame for supporting the top, legs pivoted .adjacent the cornersofl the frame to fold lwhen folded, each brace memberbeing connected with one of thelegs and to the inner a, part extending at Ian angle. to said. end portion inwardly of the position of the legs when folded, said last mentioned part being proof the legs and with one of the downwardly;

extending portions at the inner end of one of the brackets. y

5. A table including a. top, a rectangular frame for supporting the top, legs pivotcd to the frame adjacent the corners thereof to fold within the same one alongside each side thereof, braces for the legs. and a bracket member for each brace, each bracket comprising a flat pla-te portion secured to a side of the frame against the inner face thereof, and aflat plate part extending at an angle to said firstl mentioned portion and proyided 'with a depending ear portion disposed in 'a plane substantially atrght angles tothe firstl mentioned Hat 'plate y portion and inwardly of the position of 'the legs when 25 Jfolded, each brace being connected with one of the legs 'and to the depending ear portion of one of the bracket members.

6. A table including a top, a frame for sup porting the top, a reinforcin strip for the top secured thereto and exten ing across the same inwardly of the top supporting frame, legs pivoted to the top supporting frame to fold within the same, and leg attaching and top support-ing means comprising a bolt or .85 the like engaging an opening in the to supporting frame and supported by said trame,v said bolt extending inwardly of the frame through an opening in one of the legs and forming a pivot therefor, and an inwardly extending supporting portion on the bolt ex` tending in the vertical plane thereof 'and undei-lying an end portion of said reinforcing strip to sustain the latter.

`In testimony-whereof I hereunto aix my 45 signature. Y

ERNEST E. GoWELL. 

